Green Bay, WI – On Sunday, January 26, over 1500 people took to the streets of Green Bay to march in protest of the execution of Alex Pretti and the ICE occupation of Minneapolis. Despite freezing temperatures and bitter winds, Green Bay residents showed up en masse.

On January 24, Alex Pretti was beaten and murdered by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video evidence has spread throughout the country, sparking widespread protest and calls for justice.

Pretti was previously a Green Bay resident and graduate of Preble High School. The anger and grief of the community he was once a part of was felt deeply. We saw this in the largest crowd turnout in months, where a sidewalk march became a march shutting down whole streets.

This event was organized by the Green Bay Anti-War Committee (GBAC) with many community organizations coming in attendance and solidarity.

Before the march, GBAC member Daniel Castillo spoke to the crowd, “He was not a domestic terrorist, he was not an assassin, he was not trying to massacre law enforcement. He was defending his community from a federal agency that has run rampant throughout Minneapolis and is responsible for the extrajudicial killing of Renee Good.”

After speeches, protesters took to the streets. The Green Bay Police Department tried their best to stop this march, attempting to block off roads and intervening with the organizers, but the people carried the march on undeterred. Chants like “ICE out now” echoed through the streets of Green Bay, in what was clearly the largest demonstration against the Trump agenda in years.

#GreenBayWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #AlexPretti #ICE #KillerICE

Green Bay, WI – Over two dozen people showed up on Sunday, January 4 to stand in solidarity with Venezuela. Angry community members chanted “U.S. off of foreign soil! No more trading blood for oil!.” The Green Bay Anti-War Committee organized the event, with supporters from Hate Free Outagamie in attendance.

This protest comes less than two days after the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores Maduro. “Seeing the U.S. unilaterally kidnap a foreign head of state is not a precedent we want to be setting,” said the outreach chair of Green Bay Anti-War. “The drug narrative doesn't hold up when you look at the numbers and interests of the U.S. The oil narrative does.”

Countless cars honked and swerved in support of the action, showing that the people of Green Bay are against the imperialist cash grab that is this war. Signs stating, “Hands off Venezuela” and Venezuelan flags were front and center in the action.

This action in Green Bay shows that no matter where you go in this country, the people are in solidarity with Venezuela, against U.S. intervention, and want an end to U.S. imperialism.

#GreenBayWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela

Green Bay, WI – Undeterred by road closures and brisk evening temperatures, a dedicated group of around one dozen Green Bay, WI, activists arrived near Entrance 2 for the NFL Draft. It was April 24, the first day of the Draft, and a section of South Ridge Road at the western corner of Lambeau Field was closed to traffic; making it perfect for a banner drop. The action was organized by the Green Bay Anti-War Committee (GBAC), the small city organization that could.

GBAC’s used the high foot traffic to raise awareness about the genocide in Gaza. They were met by many fans who were excited to see the Palestine solidarity signs and banners. A post-action statement published by GBAC sums up the attitude nicely, “many of their hearts are big enough to reach across the ocean. Green Bay cares about the Palestinian people, wants them to be free from violence, and to thrive.”

The banner drop also attracted negative attention from a few. However, some quick thinking activists were able to find common ground by talking about the free handouts of money and arms to Israel. GBAC, having existed since November of 2023, has continued to stand with Palestine during this genocide, and will continue to advocate until Palestine is free. GBAC plans to have a presence at the Green Bay May Day action, in Leicht Memorial Park, on May 1.

#GreenBayWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #Culture #Sports #NFL

Green Bay, WI – On Sunday, March 30, hundreds gathered in the bitter cold and rain outside of the KI Convention center to protest Elon Musk’s visit to campaign for Supreme Court Candidate Brad Schimel. Schimel, a reactionary Republican attorney general, has campaigned on reintroducing a 1849 law banning abortion statewide, repealing same sex marriage and enforcing Trump’s attacks on the working class.

Schimel’s campaign has garnered support from the Trump administration. Ahead of the April 1 Supreme Court election, Elon Musk has been offering $100 to people who vote, further offering $1 million prizes to “lucky winners” in the state of Wisconsin leading up to the election.

Musk is instrumental in the Trump administration’s attacks on federal workers and unions.

The people of Green Bay showed out in force and numbers to denounce Musk. Multiple organizations, including Service Employees International Union, Working Families Power, Students for a Democratic Society and Democratic Socialists of America were in attendance.

The protest went on for hours, Chants such as “Nazis suck” and “Wisconsin is not for sale” echoed across Main Street in Green Bay. Despite the inclement weather and large presence of Musk and Schimel supporters, the residents of Green Bay stood resolute. Working people know that money for voting is not the same as their needs being met. Protesters carried signs reading, “$100 to vote, but no increase in minimum wage?”

This protest is the first of its kind in Green Bay in a long time. The large turnout was inspiring to many of the new activists in attendance and sent a powerful message that the people of Green Bay will not be bought out.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the people's movements have grown in Green Bay, with actions happening multiple times a week. The people of Green Bay will continue to stand up to fight the reactionary Republican agenda.

#GreenBayWI #WI #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #Musk #Feature

Green Bay, WI – On Saturday, February 8, nearly 100 people braved the winter cold and marched through downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin in a powerful demonstration against ICE’s escalating attacks on immigrant communities nationwide.

The protest was organized in opposition to Trump’s executive orders and the surge in ICE activity since his inauguration. One protester’s sign captured the spirit of the march, “The word criminal does not define who we are. If you want to label us, label us as loyal neighbors, dedicated workers, and caring community members.”

As the crowd marched through the snow, chants of “Aqui estamos y no nos vamos!” (We are here and we are not leaving!) reverberated with defiance and hope through the streets of Green Bay. The march was spearheaded by a local DACA recipient, who despite her fears, chose to stand up and organize her community to fight back. “Fear is real,” she shared with the crowd, “but so is our power. When we come together, we are stronger than any force that tries to divide us.”

This march was co-sponsored by local organizations Hate Free Outagamie (HFO), a group fighting for LGBTQ liberation, and Green Bay Anti-war Committee (GBAC), a group fighting against U.S. imperialism and war.

Mary Bogen, chair of HFO, addressed the crowd before the march, stating, “This is not about ‘law and order,’ this is about control. It's about keeping working people, especially Black and brown immigrants, queer folks, trans folks and their loved ones living in fear, so corporations and the ultra-rich can continue to exploit them.”

As the march concluded, protesters chanted “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go!” Then Daniel Castillo of GBAC spoke of the anti-war movement’s unity with the immigrant rights movement, “Our movement understands that the struggle for peace isn't separate from the fight for justice at home. Every dollar spent on foreign military operations is a dollar stolen from our schools, our healthcare, and our communities.”

This protest is part of a growing wave of resistance sweeping the nation, coinciding with Legalization for All’s national week of action. As we continue to see people from the queer rights movements, the anti-war movement, the trade union movement and the immigrant rights movement unite to fight back against Trump’s attacks, we look forward to seeing what more the movement in the Fox Valley has in store.

#GreenBayWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #HFO #GBAC #Trump

Green Bay, WI - On October 6, several dozen protesters marched through downtown Green Bay in an event marking one year of resistance to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Members of Green Bay Anti-War Committee and Hate Free Outagamie began the march with a rally at Leicht Park. From there the protesters marched in a loop through Washington Street and Broadway, chanting “Free free Palestine!” and “From Lebanon to Falasteen, end the U.S. war machine!” The chants resonated with passersby who joined the march. 

The demonstration had significance beyond the eve of the anniversary of October 7; it highlighted the intensifying class struggle against imperialist aggression. Israel’s recent invasion of Lebanon - after the Israeli terror attacks involving pagers and cell phones, which resulted in at least 3000 civilians injured and at least 12 killed - has escalated tensions between Israel and states resisting the ongoing genocide in Gaza. For workers of the world, the need for an anti-war stance becomes increasingly urgent.

The chair of the Green Bay Anti-War Committee spoke at the rally before the march, stating “Our position is founded on the fact that the flames of conflict have a way of spreading. While billions flow into military operations abroad, our own citizens struggle with crumbling infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and underfunded education.” His speech emphasized that not only is war destructive abroad but also at home, making the anti-war stance the only rational choice by all workers worldwide.

The march was followed by a vigil for the Palestinian and Lebanese martyrs at Leicht Memorial Park. Members of Hate Free Outagamie and Green Bay Anti-War Committee read avigil statement. Massacres committed by Israeli Occupation Forces since October 7 were listed followed by a moment of silence for the over 42,000 victims of the ongoing genocide. The glow of vigil candles illuminated the park as the closing statements were made, and the poem If I Must Die by Palestinian poet Rafaat Alareer was read. 

As members of Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, Green Bay Anti-War Committee and Hate Free Outagamie will continue actions in the Fox Valley and Northeast Wisconsin as well as participating in marches and rallies calling for an arms embargo and an immediate end to U.S. aid to Israel.

#GreenBayWI #FreePalestine #GreenBayAntiWarCommittee #AntiWar

Green Bay, WI – On May 1, the UW-Green Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (UWGB SDS), held a follow up meeting with Chancellor Michael Alexander to discuss divestment from Israel, ending military recruitment on campus, and further humanitarian initiatives to international students.

The chancellor ran defense for the university's lack of action by claiming that the UWGB Foundation and the school itself are separate entities, and that the campus administration has little power over the foundation.

After the meeting, the students held a rally at Phoenix Park on campus, despite multiple calls to delay the event from campus administration. SDS, along with members of many other student orgs like the Muslim Student Association and the Black Student Union, gathered around the Weidner Carillon to read off the names of all the children killed by the Israel.

International student Radwa Farghali stated, “These children aren’t just numbers, all these children had names, all had dreams and hopes.” The students read 86 of 165 pages of the names of martyred children.

The event started at 1:30 and ended at 4:30 with a march through the Student Union. The protest had support of faculty and other students who brought out blankets and snacks.

This was SDS’s first outside rally on campus and, with the amount of support from the student body that was received, it is sure to be the first of many in the next school year.

This was the last event on campus this school year for SDS, although the members look forward to organizing and being involved with other events throughout the city and state.

#GreenBayWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #StudentMovement #SDS

Green Bay, WI – On March 22, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) interrupted a College Democrats speaking event on campus that had U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin as a guest speaker. The event was promoted in secret on campus to prevent SDS from organizing and was supposed to teach students how to get people to vote for her. SDS found out and decided to mobilize.

The students started by entering the room with signs reading things such as “Liberal silence is violence” and “Bombing kids is not self-defense.”

After their entrance, SDS co-chair Jacob Aker-Law read a statement drafted by the students. “Tammy Baldwin calls for a ceasefire because it is politically convenient, while she still receives thousands of dollars from defense companies,” he said.

The statement drew a response from those in attendance at the Baldwin event, who then asked the protesters to leave. Once outside, the SDS members began chanting.

The students proceeded to chant for 20 minutes straight, as onlookers from throughout the University Union started recording and joining in the chants. The chanting even garnered the attention of three campus police officers, who tried to intimidate the students, to no avail. Ultimately Baldwin exited the room through the back door cutting her one hour event short by 30 minutes.

This is the second time Tammy Baldwin has come to Green Bay and has been met with protests. The first occurring in March at the Brown County Democrats gala in which members of SDS joined members of the Green Bay Anti-War Committee outside of the event. This protest against Baldwin marks the first indoor protest that SDS has engaged in since their inception this fall and has inspired many of the members to participate in further actions of this kind.

#GreenBayWI #WI #StudentMovement #SDS #AntiWarMovement #International #Palestine #GBAWC

Green Bay, WI – On March 3, the Green Bay Antiwar Committee (GBAC) rallied a dozen activists to disrupt a Democratic Party fundraiser featuring U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin.

The Brown County Democrats held the $100 a plate fundraiser at the historic Northland Hotel right after Baldwin voted yes to send nearly $100 billion of taxpayer-funded weapons to Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. Notably, Baldwin had already accepted $430,790 from pro-Israel, pro-genocide group AIPAC.

The anti-war activists greeted fundraiser attendees as they entered the venue, urging them to oppose any Democratic warmongering policies, and informing them of Baldwin’s hypocrisy.

After the fundraiser got started, the activists set up opposite the venue windows with signs, banners and multiple megaphones, and started chanting “Tammy Baldwin, you can’t hide – you’re supporting genocide!” They continued the chants throughout the entire fundraising event.

Attendees inside the fundraiser reported that they could hear the chants from inside the building, and the organizers were forced to turn up the volume of the music and speakers to try to drown out the constant chanting from outside.

Aodhan Bowman, who was with the activists chanting outside, said, “We know Baldwin is in there, and we know she can hear us. Protesters have been confronting her everywhere she goes. Green Bay and all of Wisconsin demands an end to funding war and genocide.”

#GreenBayWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #GBAC

SDS has been organizing events around the genocide since fall and have gotten the administration’s attention, particularly from a letter-writing event in November where more than 30 letters were written to campus administration and local politicians.

The student representatives that went to visit the chancellor were not told the context of what would be discussed and were only told that the chancellor had received their letters and wanted to talk. The group of five SDS members that went to speak with the chancellor wanted to be prepared, so an open letter was created to make demands to the university as well as explain who SDS is.

Chancellor Alexander attempted to run defense for the administration's silence on the issue, via the typical “I speak for an institution” rhetoric that has become commonplace. SDS eventually read through their letter, and their three demands: the divestment from military contractors, prohibition of military recruitment on campus, and support for education and humanitarian incentives.

Upon hearing the letter being read, Chancellor Alexander confirmed to the group that the school “would look into these demands” and that these are “not things that can be changed quickly.” SDS then proposed another meeting in a month to check in with the administration's progress toward their demands and the administration agreed.

UWGB SDS is growing rapidly and gaining a lot of support from the student body for their work on campus, and within the city via their partnership with the Green Bay Anti-War Committee. While the response from the chancellor was expected, it shows that the group is being treated as a legitimate force on campus and has even inspired further action.

#GreenBayWI #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS

Green Bay, WI – On February 10, four months into the Zionist occupation’s genocidal assault on Gaza, dedicated activists braved the wintry cold and wind to demand an end to U.S. aggression in the Middle East.

The mood was energetic yet somber as people shared their personal stories about how Israeli-trained forces and American weapons have destroyed families and lives around the world, from occupied Palestine to Guatemala to here in the US.

Aodhan Bowman spoke for Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and called attention to the fact that Israel’s ability to wage war on Palestinians is entirely dependent on U.S. support. “Israel has zero legitimacy – all they have is American weapons. But the rest of the world is coming together against this genocide. It is only a matter of time before the resistance is victorious.”

Younis Zaiden, a Palestinian community member and Muslim leader, expressed gratitude at the gathering and gave a speech about his experience living as a Palestinian Muslim in the Fox Valley.

Zaiden stated, “A coworker asked me recently what I thought about Palestine and Israel and October 7. I had to ask him back: ‘How much time do you have?’ Because you can’t explain October 7 without understanding the rest of the 75 years.” He finished his speech with, “I know Palestine will be free!” and the crowd chanted “From the river to the sea!” before marching through downtown Green Bay.

The action was a part of a national week of action being put on by the US Palestinian Community Action Network, the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, and Students for a Democratic Society.

#GreenBayWI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #FRSO #GBAWC #USPCN #NAARPR #SDS #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Green Bay, WI – On January 7, the Green Bay Anti-war Committee (GBAC) gathered two dozen dedicated community members to take advantage of the dense traffic leading to a Green Bay Packers football game, and displayed signs over the highway saying, “Long Live the Popular Palestinian Resistance!” and “End U.S. Support for Genocide!”

After an hour, the police arrived to try to blame the protestors for something but could only tell them to make sure nothing was dropped off the bridge. Incidentally, the police cruisers ended up disrupting traffic during this pointless interaction, giving GBAC even more visibility with their banners and flags.

The signs and the waving Palestinian flags attracted overwhelming support, with the very minimal opposition from a few lowlifes being drowned out by supportive honking horns and passengers flashing peace signs and thumbs-up as they drove by. Green Bay says from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!

#GreenBayWI #International #Palestine #AntiWar #GBAC

The vigil was the second on-campus event put together by the students and comes after the organization hosted a letter writing event on December 19, targeting Wisconsin representatives and the “Campus Elite” to acknowledge the atrocities being committed, and call for a ceasefire. The action garnered a lot of campus support and students wrote around 45 letters.

Organizations involved included members of the Green Bay Anti-War Committee, Appleton SDS, the Oshkosh Socialist Students Association and representatives from the FRSO, which co-hosted the event and helped provide the students with the supplies needed.

Attendees lit candles were lit and members of the UWGB WSP-SDS spoke. The event finished with a call to action from executive member Alkimie Andrews whose poem, We Are Gardeners is motivated by the ongoing genocide, “Our gardening would be an easier task if we all could pull the roots of this weed, But for some, that is too much to ask, For they choose to ignore those, who bleed / In this vast forest, we must converge, we must merge, to pull all the roots of this weed, together we may be freed.”

The UWGB WSP-SDS plans to hold more events on campus next year and are planning on working with the Green Bay Anti-War Committee and other SDS chapters in the future, to further advocacy in Green Bay.

#GreenBayWI #International #Palestine #SDS #GBAWC #AntiWar

Green Bay, WI – On November 12, members of the Green Bay Palestinian, Muslim and anti-war communities marched to declare their support for the popular Palestinian resistance, and to call for the end of U.S. support for the mass murdering Israeli regime.

Over 40 people gathered to chant slogans for a free Palestine before marching across the two downtown bridges, displaying signs and banners and Palestinian flags. Appreciative passersby honked their car horns in support as the march progressed through downtown.

Stopping in front of City Hall, Palestinian students at University of Wisconsin Green Bay expressed gratitude at the public display of solidarity. Some told stories of how they felt watching the horrors in Gaza unfold while attending a U.S. university.

Aodhan Bowman, a member of the Green Bay Anti-war Committee, spoke about the need for people to demand their local governments withdraw financial support for Israeli crimes.

“We need to demand that local and national politicians stop sending money to Israel. We need to divest from companies that profit from the Israeli occupation. We need to cut off the Israeli war machine at its source – the explicit U.S. support and funding that fuels it,” said Bowman.

In response to Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich displaying support for Israel by lighting up the two bridges blue and white, Bowman continued: “We demand an apology from the mayor for his explicit support for the genocide and mass murder of Palestinians, and his implication that all of Green Bay feels the same.”

Attendees of the march and rally continued to enthusiastically chant slogans all the way back and were glad at the opportunity to publicly show that Green Bay does not support genocide.

#GreenBayWI #Palestine

Green Bay, WI – On Saturday, November 4, the newly formed Green Bay Anti-war Committee (GBAC) held their first official event, a rally at Leicht Memorial Park on the edge of downtown Green Bay. The event took place on the “National Day of Action for Palestine,” proclaimed after Israel’s genocidal actions, funded by the United States and Western Europe.

Following a daring attack of Palestinian resistance fighters on October 7, Israel has since carried out many utterly barbaric war crimes, such as bombing evacuating civilians along routes given to them by the Israeli government, targeting refugee camps with air-strikes, leveling of hospitals by the Israeli Air Force, and the deployment of white phosphorus.

The ethnic cleansing campaign by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has thus far amounted to the killing of at least 9400 Palestinians – nearly 4000 were children. Despite all this, Green Bay’s mayor, Eric Genrich, chose to light up Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge blue and white in solidarity with the Israel regime.

The event drew a lively, vocal crowd of nearly 20 locals. The tone of the rally was set well with chants of “Free, free Palestine!” and “Biden, Biden you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!” After that, organizers with the Green Bay Anti-war Committee, Hate Free Outagamie, a Teamsters union steward, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization delivered speeches.

Aodhan Bowman, founding member of the Green Bay Anti-war Committee, began remarks by tying the plight of Palestinians with the ongoing genocide of Native Americans in our own country and with a sharp denouncement of Mayor Genrich’s actions. Rally-goers were then keenly reminded that the current events we’re witnessing cannot be viewed in a vacuum and go back to the Nakba of 1948 when the Israeli apartheid state was officially launched by Western powers. It was also pointed out the U.S. has given billions of dollars to Israel and is now preparing to send $14 billion more.

“Being pro-Palestine, pro-queer liberation, and against antisemitism are not separate ideals; they are interconnected and reinforcing positions. All systems of oppression mutually uphold one another and it’s important to recognize that we cannot combat these injustices in isolation,” said Mary Blackburn of Hate Free Outagamie. “True queer liberation cannot be won by turning a blind eye to genocide, or by seeking a seat at the table with white supremacy and imperialism. Liberation can only be won through solidarity with all oppressed peoples of the world. None of us are free until all of us are free!”

“What we are witnessing is war, revolutionary war, a war of a whole people against a genocidal colonizing oppressor that kills indiscriminately and disproportionately,” said Ryan Hamann from FRSO. “Resistance to such a force, in any form, is entirely and completely justified.”

After the speeches, the group marched through the park and up onto Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge. The chanting, signs, and fluttering Palestinian flags were met with many supportive horns of passing by traffic. Upon getting into position, a large banner reading “Long live the popular Palestinian resistance from Green Bay to Palestine” was draped over the railing demonstrating that the people, even of small cities and towns across Wisconsin, stand in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for liberation and against the U.S. war machine.

#GreenBayWI #Palestine #AntiWar #GBAC

Green Bay, WI – On Friday, October 20, over 30 people united in Green Bay to stand in resolute solidarity with Palestine and to challenge the city’s public support for Israel, while shedding light on the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation and apartheid. The action was organized by a coalition of local organizations and committed individuals, including Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

The rally was held at Leicht Memorial Park, overlooking the west bank of the Fox River, near a bridge adorned in the colors of the Israeli flag. Organizer Daniel Castillo began his speech highlighting the need to challenge the narrative that favors Israel. He called for support for the Palestinian perspective and denounced Zionism as a racist ideology, underscoring the importance of allowing people to live freely in their own countries.

After Castillos impassioned speech, Rob Logeson, a member of FRSO, took the stage and spoke about the courage it takes to stand for justice in today’s political climate. He told the crowd the United States financially and materially supports the Israeli military. The staggering billions of dollars in military aid provided by the U.S. accounts for nearly 20% of Israel’s total military budget, a reality that implicates our own government in the genocide. Logeson emphasized the importance of real action, to disrupt the capitalist-imperialist system, and invited the attendees to join a protest at Oshkosh Defense LLC, a defense contractor in nearby Oshkosh that produces hundreds of the Eitan Armored Personnel Carriers for the IDF.

With Daniel Castillo in the lead, the demonstrators then erupted into a march through the city. Waving Palestinian flags and chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

The march and rally concluded with remarks from local organizer Aodhan Bowman, who pointed out that American weapons and technology play a large role in the ongoing violence against Palestinians. He emphasized the profitability of perpetual war and its role in propping up the U.S. economy. He called for the formation of a Green Bay Anti-war Committee to oppose war-mongering and war-profiteering, aligning with other cities, such as Milwaukee, to help stop the destruction caused by the military-industrial complex.

#GreenBayWI #Palestine #FRSO

Green Bay, WI – On Sunday, April 30, members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Appleton Students for a Democratic Society, United Action Oshkosh, and Food Not Bombs all rallied in Green Bay for the third annual May Day celebration in the broader Fox Valley.

The rally began with a reading of a FRSO statement by Aodhan Bowman. Bowman made clear that the enemy – the monopoly capitalists – stand no chance against a united front composed of workers, oppressed nationalities, and youth. As mentioned in the statement, the growing momentum seen in the labor movement and the various people’s movements in the U.S, like the movements for Black, Chicano, and LGBTQ liberation, as well as immigrants and reproductive rights, all remind us that a better world is possible.

Dan Pratt, a Teamster union steward at UPS out of Oshkosh, spoke on the state of union organizing in the U.S. Despite many of the sobering stats he shared, Pratt reminded attendees to be hopeful and encouraged all those present to join or start a union at their workplace if they are not represented by one already.

“Corporations want to have a monopoly on bargaining power, but unions give workers a say over their workplace and the conditions therein,” Pratt said. “The power of the bosses can only be dismantled through the collective organization and struggle of workers. We have nothing to lose but our chains!”

Audari Tamayo, a member of Appleton SDS and FRSO, began his speech by calling back to the events that led to the Bayview and Haymarket Massacres that took place in the early days of May in Milwaukee and Chicago, respectively.

“The eigh-hour work day, five-day work week, lunch breaks and all matters of human decency were won through struggle. Even then, these are things that are continuously being fought for as the state seeks to repress the people, and as capitalism keeps most under the stress of losing their homes, the stress of having enough to eat, and the ever-growing threat of climate change imposed on us by the capitalists.”

The struggle for workers' rights was fresh on the students' minds as they had been fighting against their university’s administration and food provider for increased pay and longer break times for the workers, a struggle that saw awful suppression of students and overt protection of the interests of big business over student well being.

“We are the students, the youth, the majority in our schools, and the heart and soul of the schools which seem to treat us as dispensable, and as a source of cheap labor, and as a way to fund their miseducation schemes. We must take back our schools and our education!” Tamayo said.

Hollie Poupart, member of United Action Oshkosh and FRSO, went next. Poupart related the struggle for workers’ rights to the fight for community control of the police along with the liberation of oppressed nationalities. She recalled to the harrowing events that took place in an Oshkosh rally where protesters were attacked by reactionaries as police stood idly by.

“Police are not on the side of the working and oppressed people. They've shown that their job is to protect property and the oppressive status quo, not the masses!” Poupart said.

Poupart ended her speech calling for all in attendance to show their support at an upcoming rally for Jimmie Sanders, a Milwaukee man murdered in Appleton by the killer cop Jay Steinke. Poupart’s speech reminded attendees that the fight for justice is taking place on all fronts in every community, and that without a collective organized effort, killer cops and exploitative corporations will continue acting with impunity.

To round out the day's speeches, Hannah Hurle, an FRSO member from Green Bay, spoke on the misguided efforts of reactionaries to argue against those seeking to build socialism. Hannah rebuked the claim that capitalism ensures individual freedoms, something that has become evident to be false.

“Collective action is what ensures individual freedoms. The few individual freedoms we have today came as a result of collective struggle by the workers and oppressed people to ensure our individual rights,” Hurle said.

The rally closed with a last reminder from Aodhan Bowman about how things stand.

“This May Day, let's remember that our strength lies in our unity, and the ruling class is well aware of the fact that when capitalism burns, workers will fan the flames and students will add the fuel. Onward to victory, always!”

#GreenBayWI #May1 #Socialism

Line 5 is an aging oil pipeline that cuts across the ecologically fragile Straits of Mackinac in the Great Lakes and has spilled at least 33 times (1.1 million gallons of oil) since being built.

Line 3 is another old pipeline that was the source of the worst inland oil spill in U.S. history (1.7 million gallons of oil). Enbridge is attempting to expand Line 3's capacity by building a new portion through Anishinaabe treaty lands, violating those treaties and threatening fragile wetlands that are the home of the culturally important wild rice.

These pipeline projects are direct attacks on indigenous sovereignty and the treaty rights, as well as an act of violence against the indigenous way of life. Enbridge is building these pipelines to scrape the last bit of profits out of their failing oil infrastructure, at the expense of the indigenous people’s lives.

Paul DeMain, of Indian Country Communications, News from Indian Country, and Indian Country TV, spoke about how Enbridge uses their massive amounts of cash to influence how people think about this issue. He explained how Enbridge offers lucrative deals to any indigenous person they can contact, in addition to paying for out-of-area police forces to attack those trying to protect the land, and flooding the legal system to slow down any litigation until they can finish the pipeline project.

At the core, this issue is about the local, federal and state governments being bought by a large corporation, and being bribed to violate the terms of the land treaties signed by the indigenous peoples.

But as Paul DeMain said, if the terms of the treaty are violated, then the treaty is broken and the land reverts back to indigenous hands.

Enbridge cannot be allowed to force their destructive pipeline projects through the legal system on the back of the company’s accumulated capital.

#GreenBayWI #PeoplesStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #Line3Pipeline #line5

Green Bay, WI – The family of Jonathon Tubby, an Oneida Nation man killed by the Green Bay Police Department in October 2018, has vowed to continue fighting for justice even after a federal judge dismissed their wrongful death lawsuit against the city. Speaking at a May 23 press conference, on the Oneida Nation Indian Reservation, the Tubby family responded to Judge William Griesbach's decision with a renewed call for changes to the policing system in the United States.

“Judge Griesbach had a great chance to make some changes, he could've created the start of systematic change,” said Sue Doxator, Jonathon's aunt. “He missed out on this opportunity for so many people.”

Doxator continued, “It shows how deeply rooted the corruption is, and how much harder we have to fight for these changes to accountability and justice and to make sure people feel safe in their own town.”

The family also revealed that Brown County had sent them a bill for over $19,000 to cover the costs of investigating the killing of their own family member, highlighting again how the legal system in America punishes those who try to seek actual justice.

Asked whether they will pay the bill and what the plan is going forward, the Tubby family said they are appealing the decision in the 7th Circuit Court and will continue to fight for justice and police accountability for Jonathon and all victims of police crimes.

#GreenBayWI #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #IndigenousPeoples #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #OneidaNation #JusticeForJonathonTubby #GreenBayPoliceDepartment

Green Bay, WI – On April 18, nearly 100 members of the Green Bay and surrounding communities gathered for a rally to show solidarity and support with each other in the face of racism and police crimes. Leading the event was Justice for Jonathon, who seeks justice for Jonathon Tubby, an Oneida man who was murdered in 2018 by Green Bay police officer Erik O’Bryan while Tubby was handcuffed on the ground in the station sally port, pepper sprayed, and restrained by a police dog.

Speaking at the event was Marla Mahkimetas, a Menominee woman who spoke for her daughter-in-law Katelyn Kelly, who disappeared in June of 2020 and whose remains were only discovered in March 2021. Katelyn’s family had to endure nine months of uncertainty while her disappearance had almost zero media attention or attention from law enforcement.

Mahkimetas spoke about the importance of continuing and teaching indigenous cultural traditions, and the importance of bringing attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) who have been ignored by media and law enforcement, which in turn allows this crisis to continue.

“We did not have the coverage or the expertise, of our police departments, or of our national programs, to find [Katelyn], to locate her,” Mahkimetas said. “We are asking and demanding more from our service providers…those people who take an oath to protect the people. We are seeing world-wide that brown people are not protected.”

Also speaking was Noah Reif of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, about the importance of solidarity between different communities and the struggles specific to Black and Indigenous LGBTQ individuals.

A representative from the United Hmong Asian American Community Center spoke on police crimes and the hypocrisy of the police officers who take an oath to protect communities, then abuse their power.

Finally, the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (WAARPR) made some remarks on the importance of the Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) initiative and how it can serve to fight back against the criminal activity of police.

To spread the message of solidarity to the Green Bay community, the crowd then marched while chanting “Black Lives Matter”, “Native Lives Matter”, “Stop Asian Hate”, and “No More Stolen Sisters”, drawing cheers of encouragement and solidarity from passing cars and pedestrians.

This rally marks the beginning of a new phase in the Green Bay area’s fight for justice, whether it be the fight against police crimes, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, racist and political state repression, or bigotry from the forces of reaction. Many of the attendant groups and organizations will be present for the upcoming May Day celebration in Appleton at 4pm on May 1.

#GreenBayWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #JonathonTubby